Photovoltaic system for an electronic appliance

Abstract

This invention relates to a photovoltaic system for electronic appliance. The photovoltaic system comprises an energy concentrator having an outer layer ( 201 ) and an inner layer ( 202 ), the outer layer ( 201 ) adapted to gather incoming electromagnetic radiation into the energy concentrator ( 101 ) and the inner layer ( 202 ) being adapted for reflecting the incoming electromagnetic radiation such that the incoming electromagnetic radiation becomes concentrated within the energy concentrator ( 101 ). The system further comprises a solar cell ( 102 ) optically coupled to the energy concentrator ( 101 ), such that light concentrated in the energy concentrator is directed to the solar cell, the solar cell adapted to act as a power source for the electronic appliance ( 103 ). The outer layer ( 201 ) of the energy concentrator ( 101 ) forms part of an outer surface of the electronic appliance ( 103 ) and the inner layer ( 202 ) of the energy concentrator ( 101 ) is formed around a cavity for hosting electronic or mechanical components of the electronic appliance ( 103 ) and the energy concentrator is configured to reflect light through the energy concentrator ( 101 ) around at least a part of the cavity ( 305 ).

1 . A photovoltaic system ( 100 ) for an electronic appliance ( 103 ), comprising:
 an energy concentrator ( 101 ) having an outer layer ( 201 ) and an inner layer ( 202 ), wherein the outer layer ( 201 ) is adapted to gather incoming electromagnetic radiation into the energy concentrator ( 101 ) and wherein the inner layer ( 202 ) is adapted for reflecting the incoming electromagnetic radiation such that the incoming electromagnetic radiation becomes concentrated within the energy concentrator ( 101 ),   a solar cell ( 102 ) optically coupled to the energy concentrator ( 101 ), such that light concentrated in the energy concentrator is directed to the solar cell, and wherein the solar cell is adapted to act as a power source for the electronic appliance ( 103 ),   
       wherein
 the outer layer ( 201 ) of the energy concentrator ( 101 ) forms part of an outer surface of the electronic appliance ( 103 ) and 
 the inner layer ( 202 ) of the energy concentrator ( 101 ) is formed around a cavity ( 305 ) for hosting electronic or mechanical components of the electronic appliance ( 103 ) and 
 the energy concentrator is configured to reflect light through the energy concentrator ( 101 ) around the cavity ( 305 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell ( 102 ) is positioned within the cavity ( 305 ). 
     
     
         3 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 1 , wherein the physical shape of the energy concentrator ( 101 ) is such that it allows light to reflect along a path around the cavity ( 305 ). 
     
     
         4 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cavity ( 305 ) comprises a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape and the photovoltaic system comprises a plurality of solar cells ( 102   a - 102   c ) distributed along a helical path. 
     
     
         5 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 4 , wherein the solar cells ( 102   a - 102   c ) are distributed along a helical path along the cavity surface of the energy concentrator ( 101 ). 
     
     
         6 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 4 , wherein the solar cells ( 102   a - 102   c ) are distributed along a helical path along the outer layer of the energy concentrator ( 101 ). 
     
     
         7 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy concentrator ( 101 ) comprises at least one feedthrough ( 301 ,  501 - 503 ) for hosting at least one control buttons adapted to be operatively connected to the electronics of the appliances ( 103 ) for controlling the appliances. 
     
     
         8 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 7 , wherein the feedthrough is metalized so as to reflect light incident from the energy concentrator back into the energy concentrator ( 101 ). 
     
     
         9 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power storage means ( 303 ) coupled to the solar cells ( 102 ), where the solar cells ( 102 ) act as a power source to the electric appliances via the power storage means ( 303 ). 
     
     
         10 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a parent energy concentrator comprising an optical coupling means which is adapted to be optically connected to the electronic appliance such that the parent energy concentrator acts as an additional power source for the power storage means when optically connected to the electronic appliance. 
     
     
         11 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy concentrator ( 101 ) is formed by at least a first and a second energy concentrator parts which are optically connected together. 
     
     
         12 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy concentrator ( 101 ) spans more than 180 degrees of the exterior surface of the appliance on a cross section through the cavity ( 305 ) and the energy concentrator ( 101 ). 
     
     
         13 . A photovoltaic system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer ( 201 ) is a wavelength selective mirror ( 203 ) for gathering some of the wavelengths of the incoming electromagnetic radiation and where the wavelength selective mirror also acts as a reflector for the incoming electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         14 . A sensor comprising a photovoltaic system ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . An electronic appliance ( 103 ) comprising a photovoltaic system ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 .